NIKOLLË LOKA
Av. ALFDRED DUKA
NIKOLIN KURTI
The sixth part
WHY DOES THE POLITICAL ACCUSATION OF COLLABORATION NOT STAND?
-Continuing the tradition of native Catholic clergy –
Continues from last issue
The rapprochement with the Italians is also motivated by the many economic needs of the Albanian Catholic Church!
Even with studies in the service of his nation
In Albanian prisons, even in the first years after liberation, the practice of spiritual service for prisoners was applied, which the communists initially did not abolish. Kurti, as the leader of the Catholic Church, officially requested this right and since he had not received an answer, he addressed the General Command of the Army. Dom Shtjefni addresses the General Command of the National Liberation Army to give him permission to celebrate mass in prison for Catholic prisoners, since there were close to a hundred people of the Catholic faith in the political prison of Tirana.
Tirana, June 2, 1945
Parish Office of the Catholic Church
Tirana Prot. no. 177/45
General Command N.Ç. Albanian Tirana
Tirana
In the political prison of Tirana there are close to a hundred people of the Catholic faith.
If they believe that they are the vigil of the Sunday, we sign them, I have the honor to request from that General Command, the permission to go there myself personally or to take another priest, and for each month they said Mass, with confession and with develop only what is religious service.
At the same time, we request an authorization from that General Command, to go to the political prison whenever the decision of the Court is set for the death of a Catholic. We ask for this permission in order to have the opportunity given to the condemned, that in time the grafts of the consolation of Fes.
Chairman of the Catholic Committee of Tirana
Dom Shtjefën Kurti
Since the problem had not been solved, he had talked on the phone with the Office of the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, where he had requested a meeting with the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Spiro Moisiu. Since he had not been able to meet Moses on the appointed day, he had addressed him with a private letter. Sending a private letter means that Shtjefën Kurti knew Spiro Moisiu and sought his commitment as a person to solve the problem. But, being a very delicate problem, the cleric Kurti had not been able to get the answer. The state had started limiting the action of religion in the social sphere and the process had started from the institutions: prisons, schools, etc.
8. III. 1945
Private Pt. Gen. Major Spiro Moisiut
Chief of Staff of the U.K
Tirana
Lord General!
I came here some time ago, after he had asked permission to telephone from you, to talk about what is below; but even though I came at the time appointed by you, after waiting for a quarter of an hour, without anyone informing me, I returned to my duty.
The point is this:
I have made a request to P.T. General Command of UNÇ since June 2, 1945 by letter Pr. No. 177/45, which allowed me to visit the Political Prison once a month, to develop the Catholic religious service in that Prison, which is more than a hundred. To date, I have not received a positive or negative response. I did it again on June 28 of this year. a similar request through the Ministry of Justice, from where I know that we are legally bound; even from her until today no answer has been brought to me.
I would like to ask you, Lord General, because I am struggling with difficulty to speak to you verbally, although I have no need, I would like to ask you about other needs of the Office that I have, that you allow me to say Mass and perform other religious services, as is the confession and communion, in the Political Prison on the occasion of Saint Mary on August 15.
Taking the opportunity, Mr. General, I showed you my consideration for the person of Uy, and I thank you for what you are willing to do with the request I presented to you.
With special honors!
The parish priest
Dom Shtjefën Kurti
A very delicate problem was the request that the last spiritual services be performed for those sentenced to death and that the clergy participate in the last moments of their lives. Since the problem had a great political charge, he had addressed the Prime Minister, but he had not received a response.
The government’s silence was also related to the fact that the executions were carried out at night in secret places, and the executions were buried in secret, so that they were left without a known grave.
Parish Office of the Catholic Church
Tirana, 16.1.1945
Pr. no. 31/45 K.N.C.
Prime Minister of the Albanian Democratic Government-Tirana
This Parish Office of Tirana has learned from the “Bashkimi” notebook, No. 16, dated 20.1.1945, according to the court decision of the Justice that your name is engineer Leonardo Tomaso, and none of us have called him in that case assisted the condemned in the last dedication of his life.
It is customary in such cases to bribe the religious leader of the convict’s faith, and she gave him the consolations of the religion, as well as served him the last rites during the execution, and also gave him the usual prayers in private.
We sign, begging Father Dicaster of Nalte to dispose of where we should be called among other occasions, because for us Catholics, assistance in the last moments is of primary importance.
The other case involved an Albanian Catholic. In the letter to the Ministry of Justice, he writes:
After giving the death sentence to Bernard Laca, based on a court decision, Don Shtjefni had turned to the Ministry of Justice to give him the opportunity to perform his last spiritual services, before they took him for execution:
Yesterday the military court of Tirana sentenced Bernard Laca to death. It has been a habit for a long time now, not to call the Catholic priest to judge me, in the last little, the grafts of the religion.
We ask the High Dicastery of Justice to intercede where necessary, so that both in this case and in other eventual cases, a Catholic priest may be called in time to administer to him the duties of religion, as well as to give him the consolations of the rite, Keeping prepare for deke.
The parish of Tirana under the leadership of Don Shtjefni was interested in the living conditions of the Catholic prisoners and in order to help even a little, had gathered help from the citizens. In a letter addressed to the Prison Directorate, he requests that I deliver those aids to the Prison Directorate, to distribute them to the convicted Catholics.
The Parish Office has the honor of handing over the following garments to the Directorate, with a request that they distribute them to the Catholic faithful to be imprisoned there, on the occasion of the Christmas holidays: 12 shirts, 8 cords, 8 trousers, 6 suits, 2 vests, flannel 5, woolen yarn 1, cotton socks, 11 pairs, woolen socks 4 pairs, towels 2, bed cover 1, jamulija 3, shoes 1 pair.
Between gratitude and ingratitude!
Already in the first years of post-liberation, the educational trend with Marxist-Leninist ideology aimed to constantly limit the role of religious institutions in the educational process, including schools that were administered by religious communities. The state authorities declared that the only authority responsible for the education of children and the younger generation was the Party. With decision No. 5, dated 12.4.1945 of the Council of Ministers, it was decided that all primary schools in Albania were state schools.
That decision provided for the nationalization of all private primary schools (on March 6, 1946, the corresponding decree for gymnasiums is also cited). The removal of the opportunity to prepare new clergy led every day more and more towards the “death of religion”. The closing of Catholic schools was a measure aimed at turning young people away from the religion and was considered the first step towards preventing the training of young clergy, a measure that would have long-term consequences. On the same day, the Ministry of Education informs Catholic religious schools about the government’s decision.
Tirana, on 12. XII. 1945
Order of Stigmatine Sisters
Order of Servite Sisters
Tirana
Subject: On the closure of private schools
You are informed that, in view of the provisions given by the Ministry of Education, the operation, in any form, of private primary and infant schools is prohibited.
In view of the above, even the infant school that you run cannot continue to open any longer.
We would like to remind you that, even before, you have been communicated by this Section that you had to close the baby of Uaj, until today we have established that there is no direction in that direction.
That’s why I show it necessary with emphasis, for the last time to close the baby in question.
For the said Committee.
For the Executive Committee of KNCl
Of the N/Prefecture of Tirana:
President, Secretary, Vangjel Noti, Ali Bakiu
Since infant schools had not been closed by law until this time, Dom Shtjefni makes a request for their opening, in the first days of the start of the new school year.
Tirana 25.IX.1945
Catholic Parish Office
Tirana
Prot. No. 304/45
Mr. Ministry of Education
Tirana
Knowing that the school year is about to begin, we undersigned have the honor to ask the High Dicastery to grant permission to the Nuns’ Institutes of Tirana to open infant schools: the Servite and Stigmatine Nuns for Albanian Kalamaj and the Ancelle Nuns for Italian reeds.
We hope that the prayer will have a favorable result, because even the parents of the children are insisting to open those schools.
President of the Catholic Community
Don Shtjefën Kurti
After this letter, attention is drawn to the fact that the decision of the Ministry of Education was addressed to the Catholic Church for implementation. The letter demands the immediate closure of the nursery. In those conditions, the church decided to operate a “Recreatorium” instead of a school. In this case, although there could no longer be a question of learning, families were helped and the children could spend a few hours in an active and organized way under the care of the nuns.
This decision was made by the church, starting from the desire to serve the community in some way, but also being in accordance with the laws, since the “Recreatorium” was not banned. The church was serving, and because its services were not appreciated, they were viewed with suspicion and were surveilled. It was a collaboration imposed by the desire to serve as few people as possible. Albanian Catholic clergy performed that duty until the last minutes, even though they were denigrated. It took will and love to work in those conditions, which only people endowed with a lot of faith could have.
Tirana, 14. XII. 1945
Parish Office of the Catholic Church
Tirana
Prot. No. 391/45
N.Ç Council Committee of N/Tirana Prefecture
Education Section
Regarding your letter Res.138/I dt. 12.XII.45 we have the honor to inform you that this Parish, from which the Servite Sisters and the Stigmatines are based, based on the letter of the Council of Ministers, with decision 5.5.dt. 12.IV.45, closed its schools and infants. Today we don’t have a school, but we only have a “Recreatorium” for the children of believers, who, in the absence of popular flower gardens, send their children away to play in order not to be on the streets and at risk of accidents.
It seems to us that our “Ricreatorium” is not in contradiction with the provisions of the Ministry, because it is not a school, and on the other hand it is a help for poor families and in this sense it should be taken into consideration.
Parish Priest – Dean
Dom Shtjefën Kurti
After reviewing the letter sent by Dom Shtjefën Kurti, permission was granted for the Recreatorium. And to be clearer in his request and in accordance with the law, cleric Kurti sends another letter with the names of the children who benefit:
Tirana 16. II.1946
Parish Office of the Tirana Catholic Church
Pr. No. 49/46
Executive Community of K.N.Ç. of N/Prefecture
Education Section
Tirana
Answer of the science of Uej Pr. No. 138/III of 75 Res.
As the person in charge of the Servite (not Stigmatine, as erroneously in Uej’s letter) and therefore of the Recreatorum, the undersigned has the honor of sending the first list of the children who were written to, after the letter they received, in this Recreatorium.
In turn, you wrote to other children, it will be our duty to keep the Education Section up-to-date on their names.
- Niko Kota of Vasili and Theka Lin, on 30.12.42, Rr. “Skenderbej” no. 30
- Aneta Kota i Vasi. of Thek. lin. 5.3.43 St. “Skenderbej” no. 30
- Seti Burnazjan i Atin e Li, was born on 4.8.42 Rr. Dibra no. 100
- Roba Doda i Nikolla and i Domenika, born 27.X.43 Durrësit St. no.40
- Angelina Doda i Nikola e Domenika, lin. 10.VI.42 St. Kavajes no. 15
- Mariza Gjuca, Ndoc e Leze lin. 7.4.43, St. Kavajes no. 15
- Agetina Kola e Zef e Vitore lin. 7.1.43 Rr. Kavajes no. 45
- Pasquale … Ndoc e Luqija lin. 17.6.44, St. Kavajes no. 45
- Gjovalin Pepa Ndoc and Antonjeta lin. 18.6.43, str. Kavajes no. 40
- Mimi Luca of Demetrius and Basilik lin. 24.7.43, St. Kavajes no. 20
- Antonjeta Brahimi Pashk and Marija lin.8.X.43, Rr. Kavajes no. 15
- Nikoleta Brahimi Pashk and Marija lin. 7.XI.44. 15 Kavaje St
- Albania Trabanari Shaban e Lesia born 25.6.45. St. Dibres no. 12
- Rebirth Trabanari Shaban and Lesia lin. 17.3.43 St. Dibres no. 12
- Cefer Shjaku i Enver e Servete lin. 2.3.44 Rr. Dibra no. 13
- Angjelin Selva i Teodor e i Nina lin. 27.7.43. St. Reshit Petrela no. 33
- Liza Haxhimihajli of Mihal e Vite lin.14.V.42. St. Dhimitër Korona no. 17.
- Lina Haxhimihajli of Mihal e Vite lin 9.9.43. str. Dhimitër Korona no. 17
- Xhaneta Haxhimihajli i Mihal e Vite lin. 1.X.44. Rr. Dhimitër Koronan no. /Memorie.al
Parish Priest – Dean
Don Shtjefën Kurti
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